Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 131: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she has discussed with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law the reported entry of gardaí into classrooms to seize children for deportation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12935/05]

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 151: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the serious concern expressed by teachers at a number of incidents in which gardaí are reported to have entered school premises in search of pupils who were the subject of deportation orders; if she has had a response to representations she made to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform on this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13026/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 131 and 151 together.

I have indicated my concern to the Minister, Deputy McDowell, that in applying the immigration laws the Garda authorities should have regard to the sensitivities of the school environment, particularly where children are involved. The Minister has already informed the House in a written reply to a parliamentary question on 12 April 2005 that he had received correspondence from school authorities about the removal of non-national children from school premises. He also indicated that because a complaint had been made to the Garda complaints board, he was precluded from commenting further on the issue at that time.